Zahner-Isenberg began writing and recording songs at home on his computer during his 10th grade year in high school, and debuted a full electric band at the beginning of his junior year. The group played a number of local shows in Long Beach before being asked to play in Los Angeles. A year later Zahner-Isenberg began recording songs with Aaron Embry, and these recordings began to form parts of the band's first record.
In 2011 Zahner-Isenberg recorded two songs at home in Long Beach and released another single on Sub Pop titled "How Come/Good I'm Wishing", the band toured in the summer and then came home to write and record towards a second album.
Avi Buffalo's music was a mash-up of many genres, with heavy guitar influence and lyrical ambiguity.
Avi Buffalo On Facebook
http://www.avibuffalomusic.com/
Where's Your Dirty Mind
Avi Buffalo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You need it, you left that in your
8th grade suit, maybe some girls
Would think it cute if you put it on
Show 'em what you're made of, yeah
What happened to love,in its first stage
We left that when we wanted more
Now tell me what should be in store
You're made of, yeah
All this time to die, all this time to die,
Too much time to die, and i just want to die.
All this time to die, all this time to die,
Too much time to die, and i don't wanna die.
Where'd you put your mind, now you need it
Haven't focused in a while, and don't you
Wish that you could smile,
Try your hardest, show 'em what you're made of.
Try your hardest, show 'em what you're made of.
Try your hardest, show 'em what you're made of.
Try your hardest, show 'em what you're made of.
Do you feel good, like a sunray
Does your guitar squeak on the sheets
And do you feel incomplete, not enough sleep
Nothing nice around to eat, yeah.
All this time to die, all this time to die,
Too much time to die, and i just want to die.
All this time to die, all this time to die,
Too much time to die, and i don't wanna die.
The song "Where's Your Dirty Mind" by Avi Buffalo talks about the loss of innocence and the struggle to maintain one's identity in the face of societal pressures. The lyrics suggest that the singer has lost their sense of self, and is hiding behind a facade of conformity that they adopted back in their 8th grade days. The verses encourage the singer to be adventurous and show the world what they're really made of, urging them not to be afraid to let their "dirty mind" out. The chorus, however, takes a darker turn, as the singer seems to be dealing with feelings of hopelessness and despair, expressing a desire to die rather than continue living in a world they feel they don't belong in.
The first verse sets the stage for the theme of the song, as it contrasts the singer's current state of mind with their more reckless and passionate younger self. The line "What happened to love, in its first stage" suggests that the singer has lost touch with their romantic side, and is now focused solely on fitting in and conforming. The second verse encourages the singer to rediscover their inner rebel, urging them to "try their hardest" to break free from their self-imposed limitations. The bridge, however, seems to suggest that the singer is deep in the throes of depression, as they express feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction with their life.
Overall, "Where's Your Dirty Mind" is a poignant examination of the struggle to maintain one's sense of identity in the face of societal pressures, and the toll that conformity can take on a person's psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
Where's your dirty mind when
Asking where your wild, uninhibited side has gone, questioning why you aren't being more adventurous or fun.
You need it, you left that in your
Suggesting that you need your dirty mind in order to have more fun and enjoyment, but you left it back in your younger years.
8th grade suit, maybe some girls
Reminiscing about a time when being a little naughty could impress girls and garner more attention.
Would think it cute if you put it on
Encouraging the listener to embrace their wild side and show it to others, who might find it endearing.
Show 'em what you're made of, yeah
Urging the listener to be confident and show off their true self, rather than hiding behind social norms or expectations.
What happened to love,in its first stage
Reflecting on the beginnings of romantic love and how it often fades away as people become more jaded or focused on other priorities.
We left that when we wanted more
Suggesting that love may have fallen by the wayside as people become more interested in status or material success.
Now tell me what should be in store
Posing the question of what is truly important in life and what should be valued over other things.
Be adventurous, show 'em what
Echoing the earlier sentiment of embracing one's wild side and being willing to try new things and take risks.
You're made of, yeah
Emphasizing that each person has unique talents and traits that should be celebrated and shared with others.
All this time to die, all this time to die,
Feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life and expressing a desire for an end to the painful or monotonous aspects of existence.
Too much time to die, and i just want to die.
Continuing the bleak thoughts from earlier and suggesting that life may have lost its spark or purpose.
Where'd you put your mind, now you need it
Reiterating the earlier question of where one's playful and adventurous side has gone, and hinting that it may be needed for happiness.
Haven't focused in a while, and don't you
Acknowledging that the listener may have been distracted by life's demands and needs to refocus on enjoying themselves more.
Wish that you could smile,
Suggesting that happiness and joy have been elusive lately, but they are desired and needed for a more fulfilling life.
Try your hardest, show 'em what you're made of.
Encouraging the listener to put in effort and take chances in order to shine and be proud of their accomplishments or experiences.
Do you feel good, like a sunray
Asking if the listener is feeling a sense of warmth, happiness, or contentment, like the sun's rays can sometimes provide.
Does your guitar squeak on the sheets
Painting a vivid image of a musician practicing or writing music in a cozy, intimate setting, perhaps dealing with imperfections or struggles.
And do you feel incomplete, not enough sleep
Acknowledging that life can sometimes feel unsatisfying, with too little rest or relaxation to feel fully energized or content.
Nothing nice around to eat, yeah.
Adding another factor that can contribute to a feeling of malaise or dissatisfaction - lack of access to enjoyable or nourishing food.
Too much time to die, and i don't wanna die.
Struggling with feelings of despair or hopelessness while ultimately expressing a desire to live and find more happiness and meaning in life.
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
iloveulll
can we just take a moment to appreciate these beautiful lyrics. i can't really explain it all in one comment but my interpretation of it is that we kinda lose our innocence as we get older by trying to live for other people. & losing our innocence involves losing ourselves and who we are. then we get depressed while we trying to search for who we are again. we're not happy. sometimes we want to die out of the sadness and loneliness and sometimes we want to live with hope that things will change
Jacob F
Avi is such a talented songwriter, being able to write the beautiful songs that he writes, and at such a young age.
michael timmons
this is beautiful music. soulful and timeless, like the rest of this album.
Charlotte Cunnell
This is just beautiful to listen to <3 I love this song so much, and i like how they aren't so big and hyped atm so they aren't being ruined :3 (well they aren't in England anyway)
zhulia
i think it's the spirit you sense the musician's able to express behind the exact placement of those words, in that "musicality of voice" (or spirit, tone), in that timing in the song all together that matters and makes you feel "huh, wow"
BFtheWave
I get this strange Wes Anderson somewhat vintage school house feel from this and wood.. nice tones and colors sort of transcends the mood of the lyrics and turns it into something else for me
AssholePatrol
@uberbleachfan They both add to the song, but it really depends on what kind of music you're talking about. In this kind of music the added musicality of the vocalist matters much more than the lyrics, but say, in a rap song, or some sort of poetic acoustic piece, the lyrics would be much more important. Actually, now that you mention it, there are some people who's job is to write latinesque gibberish song lyrics for epic opera-like pieces in films. Obviously the melody of the vocalist matters
S|D
This is what i call infinity beauty.
Pieter Mario Fernandez
always find good song that can't be found at store.
lonetruthseeker
Avi Buffalo <3